1.  Don’t neglect your calling.     

     Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift that he had.   II Tim. 1:6

     Demas, on the other hand, forsook his calling. See Philemon 24 and then II Tim. 4:10. 

2. Don’t waiver on your character.
Gehazi relinquished his character for money II Kings 4:20-27

3.  Don’t cut corners.  There is a right way to do things and a wrong way.

     David and Uzzah attempted to cut corners in II Sam. 6:1-15 and it cost him dearly.

4.  Don’t look for the comfortable path throughout life.

    Nehemiah did not.  See  Neh. 1:11      Esther did not.  See Esther 4:16

    Moses did not.  See  Heb. 11:24-26     Caleb did not.  See Num. 13 and 14

    Paul surely didn’t .  Have you read Acts 16 or II Cor. 11 lately?

5.  Don’t become complacent   (self-satisfied or indifferent)

     At what level of success will you say you have done enough?  Jesus taught that some seed ends up 

     producing 30 fold, some 60 and some 100.  What a sad commentary to show up in heaven having 

     produced 30 fold when you should have produced 60 or produced 60 when you could have produced 100.

6. Don’t be a complainer or become critical.     Don’t oppose, propose.

     All the children of Israel did on the way to the promise land was complain.  

     See Ex. 14:10-12;  15:22-24; 16:2-8.  See also Num. 11; Ex.17:3;  Num. 16:41;         

     In Num. 21:4-9  they spoke against God and Moses and God judge them.

    “The journey is just as important as the destination!”

7. Don’t lose your creativity.  Stay on the cutting edge.

    Nehemiah figured out how to rebuild the walls even though the law prohibited him from doing so.

8. Don’t become conditional with your life and with God.

    What are your “ifs”  to become involved in service for God.  What have you already determined that 

    you cannot not do?  What have you already told God that you will not do?  Don’t set limits on 

    yourself that will in the end limit you.  

9. Don’t act cocky.

    Nebuchadnezzar was brought to his knees by God.  See Daniel 4:28-37

    Uzziah in II Chron. 26:15-23 was judged for his pride. Think sober of yourself.  

    You are never as good as people say you are and you are never as bad as people say you are.

10. Don’t compromise your faith.

      The three Hebrew children were willing to die for their faith. See Dan. 3.

11. Don’t stop climbing up the mountain with Jesus in order to grow.  See Matt. 5:1

12.  Don’t cease to be compassionate toward others.

       Good Samaritans see the needs of others while religious leaders walk by. See Luke 10

13.  Don’t stop being conformed to the image of Christ

            Move from praying Give me (Jacob in Gen. 28:20-21) and Use me to praying Search me and make me.

14. Don’t fail to keep your commitments. Be a man or a woman of your word!